Interspecific tree named ‘Sweet Kashel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:
         1. Tree having a vigorous, upright growth habit.   2. Tree being a regular and productive bearer of large size, dark red flesh fruit.   3. Fruit with an attractive speckled red skin color.   4. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality.   5. Fruit with good storage and shipping quality.

Botanical designation: Interspecific Prunus species.

Variety denomination: ‘Sweet Kashel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuing plant-breeding program including the organization and asexual reproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It was against this background of our activities that the present variety of interspecific tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.

PRIOR VARIETIES

Among the existing varieties of interspecific trees, which are known to us, and mentioned herein, ‘Flavorosa’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,285), ‘Flavor Supreme’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,763) and our proprietary non-patented interspecific selections ‘74LW472’ and ‘30ZC361’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of interspecific tree was developed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif. as an open pollinated seedling selection from our proprietary non-patented interspecific seedling ‘74LW472’. The seed parent ‘74LW472’ originated from a cross between our proprietary non-patented interspecific seedling ‘30ZC361’ and ‘Flavorosa’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,285). A large number of these open pollinated seedlings were budded onto older established trees of ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented) to enhance earlier fruit production. Under close and careful observation we recognized the desirable tree and fruit characteristics of the present seedling and selected it in 2008 for additional asexual propagation and commercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

In 2008 asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of interspecific tree was by budding to ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), as performed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., and shows that reproductions run true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and its fruit are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present new and distinct variety of interspecific tree is of large size, vigorous, upright growth and a regular and productive bearer of large size, clingstone fruit. The fruit is further characterized by its attractive, speckled red skin color, dark red flesh and having very good flavor and eating quality. In comparison to its non-patented interspecific seed parent (74LW472) the fruit of the new variety has dark red flesh compared to light red flesh and is approximately 5 days earlier in maturity. In comparison to the commercial variety ‘Flavor Supreme’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,763) the fruit of the new variety is larger in size and is approximately 12 days later in maturity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new interspecific variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) from a 8 year old tree and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of interspecific tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 8 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Large, pruned to 3 to 3.5 meters in height and width             for economical harvesting of fruit. Varies with different             cultural practices.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, tree growth of 1.5 to 2 meters the first             growing season. Varies with cultural practices, soil type,             fertility and climatic conditions.         -   Form.—Upright growth, usually pruned to vase shape.         -   Branching habit.—Upright, crotch angle approximately 25°,             increases with heavy crop load.         -   Productivity.—Productive, thinning and spacing of fruit             necessary for desired market size fruit. Number of fruit set             varies with climatic conditions during blooming period.         -   Bearer.—Regular, adequate fruit set 6 consecutive years. No             alternate bearing observed.         -   Fertility.—Self-sterile, pollinator required.         -   Density.—Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to             increase air movement and sunlight to enhance fruit color             and health of fruit spurs.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of             California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter             chilling requirement approximately 700 hours at or below 45°             F. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average circumference 58.4 cm at 25.4 cm above             ground on a 8 year old tree.         -   Stocky.—Medium stocky.         -   Texture.—Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age of             tree.         -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 3/2 to 10YR 2/2. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 24.6 cm at 1.2 meters             above ground. Crotch angle approximately 25°, increases with             heavy crop load.         -   Surface texture.—New growth relatively smooth. Mature growth             medium rough, roughness increases with age.         -   Lenticels.—Average number 34 in a 25.8 square cm area.             Average length 4.2 mm. Average width 1.9 mm. Color 10YR 4/6.         -   Color.—New growth varies from 5GY 5/4 to 5GY 5/6. Mature             growth varies from 2.5YR 3/2 to 2.5YR 2/2, varies with age             of growth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Medium to large. Average length 89.2 mm. Average width             46.2 mm.         -   Form.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Doubly serrate.         -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface texture.—Upper surface relatively smooth, slight             indentations over midrib and leaf veins. Lower surface             relatively smooth, except for small ridges created by midrib             and pinnate venation. Both upper and lower surfaces             glabrous.         -   Petiole.—Small to medium. Average length 13.3 mm. Average             width 1.7 mm. Longitudinally grooved. Surface — glabrous.             Color varies from 5GY 4/6 to 5YR 3/4.         -   Glands.—Type — globose. Size — small to medium. Average             length 1.0 mm. Average diameter 0.6 mm. Number varies from 0             to 3, average number 2. Located primarily on the base of             leaf blade and upper portion of the petiole. Color varies             from 10Y 6/10 to 2.5GY 6/8.         -   Stipules.—Average number 2. Average length 5.4 mm. Edges —             pectinate. Color varies from 10Y 7/6 to 5R 4/8.         -   Color.—Upper surface varies from 7.5GY 3/4 to 7.5GY 2/4.             Lower surface varies from 7.5GY 4/4 to 7.5GY 3/4. Midvein             color varies from 5GY 8/6 to 5GY 7/6. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 8.7 mm. Average diameter 4.5             mm.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to California winters.         -   Density.—Very dense.         -   Form.—Elongated.         -   Pedicel.—Average length 10.2 mm. Average width 0.8 mm.             Surface — glabrous. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 7.5R 4/6.         -   Color.—Varies from N 9.5/(white) to 7.5RP 6/12 on upper             edges.         -   Number of buds per spur.—Average number 10, varies from 9 to             12. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—Date of First Bloom Feb. 20, 2016. Date of             Petal Fall Mar. 2, 2016, varies slightly with climatic             conditions.         -   Size.—Medium. Average height 10.7 mm. Average diameter 17.9             mm.         -   Petals.—Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size —             small to medium. Average length 9.1 mm. Average width             7.3 mm. Form — elliptical. Arrangement — free. Petal apex —             rounded. Petal base — truncated. Margin — sinuate. Color N             9.5/(white). Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size —             small. Average length 2.5 mm. Average width 2.5 mm. Shape —             triangular. Apex — rounded to triangular. Margin — entire.             Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Color — upper             surface varies from 10Y 6/6 to 10Y 6/8. Lower surface varies             from 10Y 6/6 to 5R 4/8.         -   Stamens.—Average number 38. On average, the stamens are             above the height of the petals. Average filament length             7.6 mm. Filament color N 9.5/(white). Anther color varies             from 10R 4/10 to 5Y 8/10.         -   Pollen.—Self-sterile, pollinator required. Color varies from             10Y 7/6 to 2.5GY 7/6.         -   Pistil.—Number — normally one. Average length 9.5 mm.             Position of stigma an average of 1.0 mm above the anthers.             Surface — glabrous. Color varies from 10Y 7/6 to 2.5GY 7/6.         -   Fragrance.—Heavy.         -   Color.—Varies from N 9.5/(white) to 7.5RP 6/12 on petal             edges.         -   Pedicel.—Average length 12.7 mm. Average width 0.8 mm.             Surface — glabrous. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/8 to 7.5R 4/6.         -   Number flowers per flower bud.—Average number 3, varies from             1 to 4. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe and ready for             consumption.         -   Date of first picking.—Jun. 25, 2016.         -   Date of last picking.—Jul. 5, 2016, varies slightly with             climatic conditions.         -   Size.—Large. Average diameter axially 59.0 mm. Average             transversely in suture plane 64.8 mm. Average weight 139.2             grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of             thinning and climatic conditions.         -   Form.—Globose.         -   Suture.—Nearly smooth.         -   Ventral surface.—Nearly smooth.         -   Apex.—Nearly rounded.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Stem cavity.—Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane.             Average depth 8.9 mm. Average diameter 4.5 mm. -   Stem:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average length 18.3 mm. Average diameter 2.2             mm.         -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 3/4 to 7.5GY 5/6. -   Flesh:     -   -   Ripens.—Evenly to slightly earlier at the apex.         -   Texture.—Firm, meaty.         -   Fibers.—Few, small, tender.         -   Firmness.—Very good, comparable to other commercial             interspecific varieties.         -   Aroma.—Moderate.         -   Amydgalin.—Undetected.         -   Eating quality.—Very good.         -   Flavor.—Very good, with a good balance between acid and             sugar.         -   Juice.—Heavy amount, enhances flavor.         -   Acidity.—Not available.         -   Brix.—Average Brix 16.0°, varies slightly with amount of             fruit per tree and climatic conditions.         -   Color.—Varies from 7.5R 3/8 to 2.5Y 8/6.         -   Pit cavity.—Average length 25.0 mm. Average width 18.6 mm.             Average depth 5.0 mm. Color varies from 5R 3/8 to 7.5R 3/8. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Bloom.—Moderate amount.         -   Tendency to crack.—None.         -   Color.—Ground color varies from 7.5Y 6/6 to 10Y 6/4.             Overspread with 5R 2/4 to 7.5R 2/8. Small, randomly spaced             areas of ground color showing, leaving a speckled pattern to             skin.         -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to the flesh.         -   Astringency.—Undetected. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Clingstone, medium adherence to flesh.         -   Size.—Medium. Average length 24.6 mm. Average width 18.1 mm.             Average thickness 9.1 mm.         -   Form.—Obovoid.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Apex.—Pointed. Average length 1.9 mm.         -   Surface.—Slightly pitted throughout. One shallow groove on             each side of suture extending from base to apex.         -   Sides.—Unequal, one side extending further outward from             suture plane.         -   Ridges.—Small, extending from base toward apex.         -   Tendency to split.—None.         -   Color.—Varies from 7.5YR 5/6 to 7.5YR 5/8 when dry. -   Kernel:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 13.7 mm. Average width 10.3 mm.             Average thickness 5.8 mm.         -   Form.—Ovoid.         -   Viability.—Viable, complete embryo development.         -   Skin color.—Varies from 5Y 8.5/6 to 5Y 8/6. -   Use:     -   -   Dessert.—Market — local and long distance. -   Keeping quality: Good, held firm in cold storage for 3 weeks at 38°     to 42° F. without internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of     eating quality. -   Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal skin scarring or flesh     bruising during picking, packing and shipping trials. -   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing     for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been     designed. Under close observation during planting, growing and     harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions     near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance     or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety observed during     indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal fungus, bacterial,     virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and eliminated from our     breeding program. No atypical resistances/susceptibilities have been     noted under normal cultural practices. The present new variety of     interspecific tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit herein described     may vary in slight detail due to climate, soil conditions and     cultural practices under which the variety may be grown. The present     description is that of the variety grown under the ecological     conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree, substantially as illustrated and described. 